Joint press conference

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Prime Minister Janša, dear Janez,

It’s a pleasure to welcome you to Brussels. We’re old friends. Good to see you also now in this building, and to see you again after a successful meeting and a Summit we had in Ankara, in July.

For over two decades now, Slovenia has been a valued Ally, contributing to Euro-Atlantic security. Under your leadership, Slovenia is committed to our collective deterrence and defence, and playing its part in ramping up its defence spending, and continuing, continuing to support Ukraine.

Slovenia contributes to our Forward Land Forces in Latvia and Slovakia. Slovenia also continues to play a very important role in supporting stability across the Western Balkans. A region of strategic importance to the Alliance. You contribute personnel to our peacekeeping KFOR mission in Kosovo, helping to maintain a safe and secure environment for all communities. And you contribute to our efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including by leading an initiative to strengthen the national military police, as part of our Defence Capacity Building package.

Just as Slovenia stands with NATO, Allies also stand with Slovenia. Hungarian and Italian jets safeguard your skies. And NATO Allies sent urgent aid to help save lives after the 2023 floods. Let me also thank you, for Slovenia’s steadfast support to Ukraine – and I know this is personal. With over 60 million euros in security assistance provided in 2025. You contribute to NATO’s PURL initiative and to the Czech Ammunition Initiative. And you contribute personnel to NATO’s Security Assistance and Training Command in support of Ukraine.

Russia continues to wage its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. At a staggering cost to Russia. With over 40,000 casualties per month. Russia is struggling in Ukraine and continues to lash out, with reckless and dangerous attacks, including on civilian infrastructure, close to NATO territory. The strike on a passenger train in Ukraine yesterday shows how desperate Putin has become. He thinks that he can stop us from supporting Ukraine. And that he can undermine our unity. He is wrong. Our answer is to increase support to Ukraine, so it has what it needs to defend itself. And our commitment to NATO’s collective defence is ironclad. We will always do what is necessary to protect every inch of Allied territory.

Dear Janez, thank you again for Slovenia’s contributions to the Alliance. For your leadership. For your personal commitment to NATO. And for our friendship. Thank you so much.